Push notifications, live tiles and background agentsfor Windows Phone 7

Geert van der CruijsenConsultant – Avanade

@geertvdchttp://vdcruijsen.net

Make your App come alive with

push notificationsand live tiles

Push notificationsTileIf tile is pinned tile will be updatedApplication not accessed

ToastData delivered to app when app is runningToast popup if app is not running

RawOnly delivered when app is runningContent handled by application

Architecture

Microsoft Push Notification Server

Cloud App Service

Push Client Service

Push enabled Application

Request push URI

Push client/server negotiation

Register URI at App service

Push message

Push message

Even when he’s not using your app

Notifythe user

Scenarios

WeatherGamesSportsMessagingNewsUtilities

Building the Phone partAsk for user permissionNot being able to disable push notifications will fail marketplace certification

Register Phone with Push Service

Register Event Handlers

Handle optional in app notificationsRaw notifications

In app toast notifications

DemoBuilding the Phone Part

Building the ServiceRegister PhoneUnique IDURI

Update Phone URI

Send Notifications

Handle return codes

DemoBuilding the Service Part

Phone APIPinning tiles

ShellTileUpdateprivate void CreateTileSchedule(){ schedule = new ShellTileSchedule(); schedule.Interval = UpdateInterval.EveryDay; schedule.MaxUpdateCount = 7; schedule.Recurrence = UpdateRecurrence.Interval; schedule.RemoteImageUri = new Uri(@"http://www.server.com/image.png"); schedule.Start();}

DemoGenerating dynamic local tile images

Service XML messagesTile notifications<wp:Notification xmlns:wp="WPNotification">   

<wp:Tile Id="/SessionPage.xaml?id=0">     

<wp:BackgroundImage>http://www.server.com/background.png</wp:BackgroundImage>     

<wp:Count>12</wp:Count>     

<wp:Title>Techdays App</wp:Title>     

<wp:BackBackgroundImage>http://www.server.com/backbackground.png</wp:BackBackgroundImage>     

<wp:BackContent>PushNotification session</wp:BackContent>     

<wp:BackTitle>Geert van der Cruijsen</wp:BackTitle>   

</wp:Tile>

</wp:Notification>

Service XML messagesToast notifications<wp:Notification xmlns:wp="WPNotification">   

<wp:Toast>     

<wp:Text1>Techdays2012</wp:Text1>     

<wp:Text2>Next session starts in 5 minutes</wp:Text2>     

<wp:Param>/SessionPage.xaml?id=1</wp:Param>   

</wp:Toast>

</wp:Notification>

Tips & TricksUser Opt-in

Check device capabilities<Capability Name="ID_CAP_PUSH_NOTIFICATION"/>       <Capability Name="ID_CAP_IDENTITY_DEVICE"/>

Encrypt channel URI

Tiles max 80kb and 15 seconds

Tips & TricksPower managementCriticalLowPowerLevel – No push messages will be sentLowPowerLevel – only Raw push messages will be sentNormalPowerLevel – All push messages will be sent

MPNS http response codes200 OK – Received, Suspended, QueueFull400 Bad Request – Error in your xml404 Not Found – Subscription not valid. Stop sending406 Not acceptable – Maximum of 500 messages reached412 Preconditions failed – Phone inactive. Resend max 1x per hour

Background agentsPeriodicTaskRecurring task on regular intervalMax every 30 minutesMaximum of 6 background agents per device

ResourceIntensiveTaskSingle task that can run for a longer time when specific requirements are met

PeriodicTaskUnsupported APIsUICamera

Memory restrictions6 MB / 15 MB

Reschedule every 2 weeksUnscheduled after 2 consecutive crashes

PeriodicTask Typical APIsGeoCoordinateWatcher

HttpWebRequest

Mutex

ShellToast

ShellTile

ResourceIntensiveTaskHeavy requirementsMax duration of 10 minutesExternal power requiredNon cellular internet connection requiredBattery power needs to be 90% or higherScreen needs to be locked

DemoBuilding a background agent

ResourcesPush Notification Helper Libraryhttp://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2011/01/14/windows-push-notification-server-side-helper-library.aspx

Azure toolkithttp://watoolkitwp7.codeplex.com/

Windows Phone App hubhttp://create.msdn.com

#wp7nl

Call to actionStart building Windows Phone apps!

Include Push notifications and/or live tiles!Multiple local tilesPush is not hard!

Q&A

@geertvdchttp://vdcruijsen.net